Roller-bearing.



, Re. 741,008. 4 PATENTBD OCT. 13, 1903.

F. IL EBOOKS..

' ROLLER EEAR'JEEGM Ammonium-'Hm MLM; 52,1902.

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v UNITED? STATES Patented October 13, 1903!;

PATENT OEEIJCE.

FREDERICK E. BROOKS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO BROOKSGRANT ROLLER BEARING COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.-

Y ROLLER-BjEAFilN(3.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,008, dated October 13, 1903. Application iiled J une 1902. Serial No. 110,339. (No model.)

a citizen of the United Stat-es, residing at San Francisco, San Franciscocounty, California,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RollerBearings, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in roller-bearings; and its objects are to improve the construction of such bearings in order to secure an alinement of the rollers, reduce the friction, and increase the efficiency of the bearing. l

Another object of my invention is to con*- struct the roller-bearin g in such manner that the parts may be readily assembled and taken apart.

Further objects of my .invention will hereinafter appear; and to these ends my inven tion consists in the roller-bearing' for carrying out the above objects having a construction and general mode of operation substantially as hereinafter fullydescribed and shown in this specication and accompanying draw-A ings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view ofV a bearing embodying my invention. Fig.l 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line X X of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view of one of the antifriction-rollers. Fig. 4L is a view of one of the intermediate or spacing rollers. Figi 5 is a side view, and Fig. k6 is an end view, of the journal. v

Referring to the drawings, A represents a shaft, and B a journal-box. In this instance upon the shaft there is xed a sleeve C, provided with runways D, formed in any suitable manner, but, as shown, formed by flanges E, provided with inwardly-projecting portions or guides F, forming bearing-surfaces, and this sleeve in the present instance forms the journal of the shaft. In some instances the sleeve C may be dispensed with, and in such case the runways will be connected directly tothe shaft in any suitable manner. The fiange forming a runway may form an integral part of the sleeve, as shown in the drawings, or it may be separate therefrom and .connected thereto in any suitable man- `tutes the bearing for the journal. in the drawings, the sleeve H is made from ner. If desired, the sleeve C may also be provided with ribs G, formed upon the sleeve in any suitable manner. Preferably the jour'- nal-box is provided with a sleeve H, which may also be provided with ribs I, formed in any suitable manner, and this sleeve consti- As shown pressed steel, the ribs I being pressed on `the sleeve. Antifrictionfrollers J, having body tween the journal and its bearing, whilein- .termediate rollers K areshown arranged be-l tween the antifriction-rollers J of less diameter than the same. The rollers J are adapted to travel in contactwith both of the sleeves C and H, while the intermediate rollers K travel inrcontact with the rollers J and rotate in a reversedirection. The rollers J have circumferential grooves into which movement of the .rollers J and to keep the shoulder near the ends of the rollers J, out of frictional contact with the ed ge of the guide F. If there is an end thrust of the journal, there will be no end thrust on the roller 'except what is taken up by the rolling contact between the ribs Gr or I and the grooves j, and there will consequently be practically no sliding frictionA on the rollers.' In some cases the uribs on the journal-box may be omitted, as when there is no material end thrusty of the shaft or journal.

Any'vsuitable means may be provided whereby the ends of the rollers J may be guided in the runways, as shown, the reduced ends of the rollers extending into the runways.

According to my construction the rollers J are provided with teeth O, formed flush with the body portions of the rollers and preterably arranged at each end of' said bodies or enlarged portions of the rollers, while projecting teeth P are provided onthe journal C, which teeth mesh with the flush teeth on the rollers J.

Since the teeth O on the antifriction-rollers are substantially ush with the surfaces of the rollers, while the teeth P on the journal project therefrom', it will be seen that according to this construction suiicient space is afforded between the antifriction-rollers to enable the intermediate rollers to be made of a diameter large enough for strength and efficiency, and at the same time the bodies of the intermediate rollers may be made of substantially uniform diameter' throughout their' length.

The intermediate rollers K are of less diameter than the rollers J, and their ends extend into the runways D and are adapted to make rolling contact with the bearing-surfaces of the guides F. As shown, the intermediate rollers K make rolling contact with the ribs G and with the guides F of the runways vin the operation of the bearings. Preferably the shoulders a9 of the rollers J are beveledat Z) and are adapted to bear against the beveled portions c of the intermediate rollers, thereby preventing undue end play of the intermediate rollers K. The rollers K, however, will be permitted to have a slight play lengthwise, so that there will be no undue friction between. the surfaces b and c.

Witha construction wherein there are teeth on the journal or the bearing and teeth on the rollers, unless some means are provided for keeping the rollers separated, whenever the slightest wear takes place on eitherl the journal or the bearing or the rollers between them there is nothing to prevent the rollers from catching up one with the other and rubbing against each other, and therefore causing friction and destroying the rollers and the efciency of the bearing. This fault is overcome by the introduction of intermediate rollers, and therefore it is not necessary to use a cage or other construction which would involve a sliding friction to keep the rollers apart. One of the main objects of providing teeth on the inner sleeve and on the ends of the rollers, or upon some of them, (not necessarily upon all,) is to keep the rollers in line-that is, to keep them parallel to the axis of the shaft. By so providing teeth upon the journal and upon the rollers, or some of them, there is no possibility of the rollers getting out of line.

By constructing the teeth on the antifriction-roller substantially fiush with the surface of the rollers it is unnecessary to cut away or recess the intermediate rollers for clearance of the teeth, which would weaken the intermediate or separating rollers.

I am aware that it is not, broadly, new to employ antifriction-rollers between a journal. and its bearing and to provide intermediate spacing-rollers between the antifriction-rollers designed to keep the antifriction-rollers in line, and I am also aware that it is not, broadly, new to place antifriction-rollers provided with teeth between a journal and its bearing,one or both of the latter having teeth with which the teeth of the rollers mesh, and to mount such rollers in a cage for the purpose of keeping them separated. I am not,

however, aware that it has ever before been proposed to use spacing-rollers in conjunction with antifriction-rollers provided with teeth between ajournal and its bearing,whicl1 teeth mesh with the teeth on either the journal or its bearing, and this combination or arrangement results in many advantages over either of the other two named arrangements.

In my bearing there is no sliding friction on the devices employed to keep the antifriction-rollers separated, and the latter cannot at any time or under any conditions creep up on each other. Friction is reduced between the runways and the ends of the intermediate separating-rollers by a proper ratio between the dimensions of the runways and the dimensions of the ends of the intermediate rollers. In order that the intermediate rollers `may roll upon the guiding-surfaces of the runways, the ratio between the circumference of the end of a small roller and the circumt'erence of a runway should be equal to the number of revolutions which a small roller makes in passing around the shaft, or, in other words, the circumference of the runway should be divisible by the circumference of the end of the little roller a number of times according to the number of revolutions the little roller makes in passing around the shaft.

My bearing is so constructed that it may be readily assembled and taken apart, and in assembling the parts thereis no possibility of the rollers being placed in the bearing out of line in the first instance. In order to secure this end, means are provided for placing the rollers in the bearing in mesh with the teeth on the journal and in proper alinement. As shown, the guides F of the runways are each provided with a slot d, into which the r educed portions L of the rollers may be passed to bring said ends within the runways, and it will thus be seen that there is no possibility of the rollers being placed in the bearing out of alinement. According to this construction it will also be seen that when the rollers are moved around in the sleeve they are prevented from dropping out. Means are also provided for inserting the intermediate rollers K between the antifriction-rollers J, as shown, one of the llanges E being provided with an aperture Q, into which the intermediate rollers may be thrust to bring them in proper position. Any suitable means may be provided for closing the aperture Q and the slots CZ after the rollers have been inserted. If desired, each flange E may be provided with an aperture Q.

Preferably the journatbox B is made in one piece, while the sleeve H is made in sections, and the sleeve O on the shaft may also be made in sections in order to aid in the ready assembling of the parts. When the sleeves are made in sections, as described, there may be two sections, and according to my invention the meeting edges of the sections are arranged diagonally to the axis of the shaft, as shown in the drawings. According to this construction an even bearing- IOO IIO

. tions of sleeves may be fitted together, the

parts being therefore interchangeable. The inner sleeve C is provided, as shown, with apertures Z, into which plugs may be inserted from the inside of the bearing after the journal has been removed, these plugs preventing the rollers from dropping out when the bearing is taken apart.

One of the most important advantages of my invention is that I can use long rollerbearings, which has hitherto been impractical on account of the dificulty in keeping the rollers in true alinement, and this diculty has increased with increased length of .the rollers.

`Obviously some features of my invention can be used without others and my invention may be embodied in widely-varying forms.

Therefore, without limiting myself to the construction shown and described or enumerating equivalents, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

l. In a roller-bearing, the combination of a shaft, a sleeve rigidly secured thereon and provided at its ends with projecting teeth and also provided with annular runways formed by 'flanges connected to the sleeve having inwardly-projecting guides forming bearing-surfaces,l a journal-box and sleeve therein, antifriction rollers between said sleeves adapted to travel in contact therewith, said rollers having body portions and reduced ends thereon projecting into the runways and guided thereby, there being teeth formed ilush with the surfaces of the body portions of said rollers and at the ends thereof, said teeth engaging the projectingteeth on the sleeve on the shaft, and intermediate rollers between the first-named rollers and of smaller diameter than the same, said intermediate rollers projecting into the runways, and making rolling contact with the bearing-surfaces of the guides, with the sleeve on the journal, and with the first-named rollers, for substantially the purposes set forth. l

2. In a roller-bearing, the combination of a shaft and a sleeve thereon provided with projecting teeth and also provided with runways, a journal-box and a sleeve therein, antifriction-rollers having body portions and teeth formed flush with the surfaces of the body portions of said rollers and at the ends thereof, said teeth-meshing with the teeth of v the sleeve on the shaft, said rollers also hav- Y ing reduced ends entering the runways, and

intermediate rollers between said first-namedA rollers and of smaller diameter than the same, the ends of said intermediate rollers traveling in the runways and making rolling contact therewith and with the first-named rollers, for

`substantially the purposes set forth.

3. In a roller-bearing, the combination of a shaft, a sleeve rigidly secured thereon and provided at its .ends with projecting teeth and also provided with annular runways formed by iianges connected to the sleeve having inwardlyprojecting guides forming bearing-surfaces, a journal-box and sleeve therein, antifriction rollers between said sleeves adapted to travel in contact therewith, said rollers having body portions and reduced lends thereon projecting into the runways and guided thereby,there being teeth formed hush with the surfaces of the body portions of said rollers and at the ends thereof, said teeth engaging the projecting teeth of the sleeve on the shaft, each of said inwardly-projecting guides being provided with a slot for the passage of the reduced ends of the antifriction-rollers, intermediate rollers between the first-named rollers and of smaller diameter than the same, and said Iianges being provided with an aperture for the insertion of the intermediate rollers between the rst-named rollers, said intermediate rollers projecting into the runways and making rolling contact therewith and with the firstnamed rollers, for substantially the purposes set forth.

4. In a roller-bearing, the combination of a shaft, a sleeve thereon provided at its ends with projecting teeth and also provided with annular runways formed by flanges connected to the sleeve having inwardly projecting guides forming bearing-surfaces, a journallbox and sleeve therein, antifriction-rollers between said sleeves and adapted to travel in contact therewith, said rollers having body portions and reduced ends thereon projecting into the runways and .guided thereby, there being teeth formed flush with the surfaces of the body portions of said rollers and at the ends thereof, said teeth engaging the projecting teeth on said sleeve, each of said inwardly-projectingl guides being provided with a slot for the insertion of the antifriction-rollers between the sleeves, whereby the rollers may be, inserted in the bearing through said slots in proper mesh and axial alinement, and means for maintaining the rollers separated one from the other, for substantially the pur-4 ICQ IIO

portions and reduced ends thereon projecting4 into the runways and held thereby, there being teeth formed flush with the surfaces of the body portions of said rollers and at the ends thereof, said teeth engaging the projecting teeth on said sleeve, intermediate rollers between the first-named rollers and of smaller diameter than the same7 and one of said flanges being provided with an aperture for the insertion of the intermediate rollers be- Io tween the first-named rollers, said intermediate rollers projecting into the runways and making rolling Contact therewith and with the first-named rollers, for substantially the purposes set forth.

Signed this 29th day of May, 1902, at 141 f5 Broadway, New York, N. Y.

FRED. E. BROOKS.

Witnesses:

EUGENE N. RoBINseN, H. G. OGDEN, Jr. 

